F1: Vettel praises Ferrari's “attention to detail” with SF71H

Sebastian Vettel has paid credit to Ferrari’s “impressive” work on the SF71H during the Italian team's 2018 F1 launch.

Sebastian Vettel has paid credit to Ferrari’s “impressive” detailed work on the SF71H as it aims to make amends after missing out of the Formula 1 world drivers' title last year to Mercedes.

Vettel led the F1 drivers’ standings until round 13 at the Italian Grand Prix last year but his and Ferrari’s title challenge fell apart during the Asian flyaway races due to a combination of driver error and mechanical breakdowns.

While both Vettel and Raikkonen were involved in a crash with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix, the German driver was forced to start from last place in Malaysia after missing qualifying due to an engine change while in Japan a spark plug problem on the starting grid forced him to retire from the race early on.

Ferrari has moved swiftly to resolve any potential future mechanical problems by naming Maria Mendoza as Ferrari’s keen eye in its quality control department. Vettel has given a nod to this during the presentation to reveal the Scuderia’s 2018 F1 car, the SF71H, which is an evolution on from its previous challenger which saw the German secure five race wins.

“A lot of hours and a lot of work goes in,” Vettel said. “Not just during the off-season or winter, but even very early during last season starting the new project and to stand here now I think it’s very special for all of us.

“The amount of effort that has gone in, the attention to detail in so many areas, it’s impressive. The real magic happens underneath from what you can see, but every little detail matters and I think this year’s car is a big step from last year’s, so let’s see how it feels.

“We can’t wait to get out on the track to see how the car performs and behaves. I think that’s the answer we all want to get so we go from there.”

Vettel is gearing up for his fourth F1 campaign with Ferrari having joined from Red Bull in 2015. Last August, the four-time F1 world champion signed a new deal to stay with Ferrari until at least the end of the 2020 season.